New Delhi, July 09: The Central government's controversial move to repeal the IMDT Act 1983, which provides for hearing by a tribunal before expulsion of illegal migrants, came under sharp criticism today from various political leaders and minority organisations. In a veiled attack against the BJP-led ruling NDA government, former Finance Minister Madhu Dandavate said, "The demand to repeal the Illegal Migrants Determination Tribunal Act shows that there is no respect for democracy....The demand commensurates with the erosion of values and their sense of tolerance."
Pointing out that there was a conscious effort to single out the Muslims, he said there were talks of not touching the Hindus even if they had migrated or infiltrated from the neighbouring Bangladesh. He was speaking at an open discussion organised by the co-ordination committee of minority organistions from Assam. Participating in the discussion, former Assam Law Minister Abdul Muhib Majumdar, considered as the architect behind the act, alleged that the claim of the pro-repeal group about 90 lakh infiltrators living in Assam was exaggerated.
"The claim made by senior authorities, including the former governor of Assam S K Sinha, was without any statistical backing," he said. Syed Shahabuddin, senior member of the All India Muslim Personel Law Board, demanded Bihar and Delhi, which face severe illegal migration problem, notify the IMDT Act, but maintained that the onus of proving the nationality of a citizen should be shifted to the administration and not to the individual concerned. Bureau Report